Collapsible projectile launcher

ABSTRACT

A collapsible, locking projectile launching device is movable between a folded closed collapsed configuration for storage and transportation of the device and a locked open extended configuration for use. The includes a forked yoke opposing arms, rotatable locking shafts rotatably mounted over the opposing arms, a projectile launching pouch, and resilient elastic bands connected between the rotatable locking shafts and the projectile launching pouch.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to slingshot type devices for launching projectiles, and more particularly relates to a collapsible, locking projectile launching device movable between a folded closed collapsed configuration and a locked open extended configuration, with elastic bands connected to a projectile launching pouch for launching projectiles such as arborist lines and rope throw weights, rescue lines, seed bombs, unmanned aerial vehicles, and the like.

Climbers and arborists such as tree trimmers and tree climbers commonly need to fasten a rope or line to an elevated point of support, such as an elevated structure or an elevated tree branch, for example, typically by launching a throw weight connected to the rope or line over the elevated point of support so that the end of the rope or line attached to the throw weight can be secured to a stronger rope or line and pulled into a desired position. It would be desirable to provide an apparatus that can launch such a projectile higher, farther and more accurately than can typically be accomplished by hand.

While line-throwing guns or cannons have been developed to fire a projectile with an attached line for rescues at sea great distances, such devices are complex and difficult to operate and maintain properly. Hand held slingshot devices typically having a forked member with a handle, elastic bands connected to the forked member and a pouch for a projectile that can be pulled back and released are also known.

A collapsible locking slingshot that can be mounted on a user's arm includes interchangeable elastic bands connected to a pair of arms of the slingshot that extend generally parallel to a user's arm during use, and can be collapsed into a lockable case. The slingshot includes first and second panels connected by a hinge that are moveable away from each other to form a guard area and moveable towards each other to form a housing, a pair of arms having ends rotatably moveable away from one of the panels to extend away from the panel, and moveable towards the panel to be substantially contained within a housing. A slingshot device is also known that includes a handle member to be mounted on a user's arm, a pair of upwardly projecting arm elements attached to the handle member, and multiple lengths of rubber tubing attached between the arm elements and a pouch. However, such devices typically have limited range and accuracy, and can be dangerous to a user if an elastic or rubber band breaks.

A slingshot type apparatus for propelling a projectile generally vertically upward is also known that includes a Y-shaped member having a telescoping shaft connected to a pole that can be aimed by a user. The arms of the Y-shaped member have free ends extending in a direction having a substantial component parallel to the pole, and a sling assembly attached by elastic tubing to the arms, so that the device can be more powerful than a typically hand held slingshot device, but since the free ends of the Y-shaped member are substantially in line with the pole, accurate aiming of the device can be difficult.

It would be desirable to provide a collapsible, locking projectile launching device including a forked yoke member including a central tubular support shaft with a pair of opposing arms having a pair of rotatable locking shafts rotatably movable between a folded closed collapsed configuration and a locked open extended configuration, and a pair of resilient elastic bands connecting the rotatable locking shafts to a projectile launching pouch, so that the rotatable locking shafts of the projectile launching device can be placed in the locked open extended configuration to provide an area spaced apart from the central tubular support shaft for aiming the projectile launching device and improved safety of a user, and so that the rotatable locking shafts of the projectile launching device can be placed in the folded closed collapsed configuration for storing and transporting the device. The present invention meets these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly and in general terms, the present invention provides for a collapsible, locking projectile launching device movable between a folded closed collapsed configuration and a locked open extended configuration. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device includes a forked yoke member with a pair of opposing arms, rotatable locking shafts rotatably mounted over the pair of opposing arms of the forked yoke member, a projectile launching pouch and first and second resilient elastic bands connected to the rotatable locking shafts rotatably mounted over the pair of opposing arms of the forked yoke member. The rotatable locking shafts are rotatably movable between a folded closed collapsed configuration and a locked open extended configuration to provide to provide an area between the rotatable locking shafts for aiming the projectile launching device and for improved safety of a user, and allowing the rotatable locking shafts to be folded closed in the collapsed configuration for storage and transportation of the device.

The present invention accordingly provides for a collapsible, locking projectile launching device including a forked yoke member including a central tubular support shaft having first and second ends, a cross-bar portion having a middle portion and first and second opposing arms having first and second opposing end portions. The middle portion is fixedly mounted to the first end of the central tubular support shaft, and first and second rotatable locking shafts are rotatably mounted over the first and second opposing arms of the forked yoke member for movement between the folded closed collapsed configuration and the locked open extended configuration. The first and second rotatable locking shafts include elastic band mounting members, and first and second resilient elastic bands connected between the elastic band mounting members of the first and second rotatable locking shafts and a projectile launching pouch having an interior pocket portion configured for releasably receiving and launching a projectile. In a presently preferred aspect, the first and second resilient elastic bands are tubular.

In another presently preferred aspect, the forked yoke member comprises a generally U-shaped rod member. In another presently preferred aspect, the central tubular support shaft is connected to a tubular mounting bracket, which includes an opening for receiving and removably connecting to an end of mounting shaft structure such as a portable mounting pole assembly or a fixed mounting shaft structure, for example. In another presently preferred aspect, the tubular mounting bracket includes an aperture for removably engaging a spring loaded detent pin of the mounting shaft structure.

In another presently preferred aspect, the forked yoke member includes a cross-bar portion having a middle portion fixedly mounted to the first end of the central tubular support shaft, and in another presently preferred aspect, the first and second opposing end portions of the first and second opposing arms curve substantially at right angles away from the central tubular support shaft. In another presently preferred aspect, the second ends of the rotatable locking shafts include one or more locking pin slots, such as opposing first and second slots, for example, configured to receive and engage one or more corresponding locking pins, such as opposing first and second corresponding locking pins, for example, extending radially outward from the first and second opposing end portions of the first and second opposing arms of the forked yoke. In another presently preferred aspect, the one or more locking pin slots are biased against the one or more corresponding locking pins to releasably lock the collapsible, locking projectile launching device in the locked open extended configuration, such as by compression springs, for example.

In another presently preferred aspect, the first and second rotatable locking shafts include first and second curved launching arm extensions having opposing end portions that curve back toward the central tubular support shaft, and first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members configured to engage a first end of the first and second resilient elastic bands. In another presently preferred aspect, the first and second curved launching arm extensions are rotated inwardly toward the central tubular support shaft and the cross bar member of the forked yoke in the folded closed collapsed configuration, and are rotated outwardly away from the central tubular support shaft and the cross bar member of the forked yoke in the locked open extended configuration, with the first ends of the resilient elastic bands spread outwardly and spaced apart from the middle portion of the cross-bar portion of the forked yoke.

In another presently preferred aspect, the first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members curve away from the central tubular support shaft. In another presently preferred aspect, each of the first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members is spaced apart by a gap dimensioned to frictionally retain knots formed at the first ends of the resilient elastic bands.

In another presently preferred aspect, the first and second opposing end portions of the first and second opposing arms of the yoke member are threaded, and further comprising first and second end caps threadably connected to the first and second opposing end portions of the first and second opposing arms of the yoke member, and wherein the first and second end caps are configured to capture and retain first and second coil springs over the first and second opposing end portions of the first and second opposing arms of the yoke member to bias the first and second rotatable locking shafts in a direction toward the central tubular support shaft.

In another presently preferred aspect, the projectile launching pouch comprises two exterior side portions, two exterior side corner portions, and a middle exterior portion, the middle exterior portion including a middle connector strap forming a loop connected to and extending away from the middle exterior portion. In another presently preferred aspect, the middle connector strap includes side portions securely affixed to two exterior side corner portions of the projectile launching pouch and extending along the exterior portion to the first and second corners of the projectile launching pouch. In another presently preferred aspect, the side portions of the middle connector strap form first and second corner loops at the first and second corners of the projectile launching pouch configured to retain and engage knots at the second ends of the first and second resilient elastic bands.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the operation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of the collapsible, locking projectile launching device according to the present invention, showing the device in a folded closed, collapsed configuration.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the collapsible, locking projectile launching device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the collapsible, locking projectile launching device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the collapsible, locking projectile launching device of FIG. 1, showing the device in a locked open, extended configuration.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a connection of a left side rotatable locking shaft rotatably mounted over a left side arm of the forked yoke member of the collapsible, locking projectile launching device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a connection of a right side rotatable locking shaft rotatably mounted over a right side arm of the forked yoke member of the collapsible, locking projectile launching device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is another enlarged view from a different perspective, similar to FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged right side perspective view of the right side rotatable locking shaft rotatably mounted over the right side arm of the forked yoke member of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged left side perspective view of the right side rotatable locking shaft rotatably mounted over the left side arm of the forked yoke member of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, which are provided by way of example, and not by way of limitation, the present invention provides for a collapsible, locking projectile launching device with rotatable locking shafts that are rotatably movable between a folded closed collapsed configuration and a locked open extended configuration to provide to provide an area between the rotatable locking shafts for aiming the projectile launching device and for improved safety of a user, and allowing the rotatable locking shafts to be folded closed in the collapsed configuration for storage and transportation of the device.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the collapsible, locking projectile launching device 20 includes a central tubular support shaft 22 having a first end 24 and a second end 26, and a forked yoke or generally U-shaped rod member 28 having a cross-bar portion 30 forming first and second opposing arms 32, 34 having first and second opposing end portions 36, 38, that preferably curve approximately at right angles away from the cross-bar portion and the central tubular support shaft. A middle portion 40 of the cross-bar portion of the forked yoke is fixedly mounted to the first end of the central tubular support shaft by a mounting plate 42, typically with fasteners 44, such as bolts or screws. The first and second opposing ends of the yoke member are preferably threaded, to retain first and second correspondingly threaded end caps 46, 48 that capture and retain first and second compression or coil springs 50, 52 over the first and second opposing ends of the yoke member. The first and second compression or coil springs in turn bias first and second tubular rotatable locking shafts 54, 56 rotatably mounted over the first and second opposing arms of the forked yoke, typically in a direction generally toward the cross-bar portion and the central tubular support shaft.

The first and second rotatable locking shafts preferably include first and second curved launching arm extensions 58, 60 having opposing end portions 62, 64 that curve generally in a direction back toward the central tubular support shaft, and first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members or hooks 66, 68 that curve away from the central tubular support shaft.

The first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members or hooks are configured for engaging and retaining first and second resilient elastic bands 70, 72, which are preferably tubular, having first and second ends 74, 76. Each pair of elastic band mounting members or hooks is preferably spaced apart by a gap dimensioned to frictionally retain first knots 80 formed at the first ends of the resilient elastic bands, particularly when the first ends of the first and second resilient elastic bands are tensioned or pulled in a direction toward the central tubular support shaft.

Second knots 82 are also typically formed at the second ends of the first and second resilient elastic bands for engaging first and second corners 84, 86 of a projectile launching pouch 88, having an interior pocket portion 90 configured for releasably receiving and launching a projectile. The projectile launching pouch preferably includes a middle connector strap or loop 92 extending away from an exterior portion 94, and having side portions 96 securely affixed to the exterior portion of the projectile launching pouch and extending along the exterior portion to the first and second corners of the projectile launching pouch and forming first and second corner loops 98, 100 at the first and second corners of the projectile launching pouch for engaging and retaining the knots at the second ends of the first and second resilient elastic bands.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the central tubular support shaft is typically connected to a tubular mounting bracket 102, such as by a mounting bolt or pin 104 that extends through the central tubular support shaft and the tubular mounting bracket. The tubular mounting bracket includes an opening 106 for receiving and removably connecting to a mounting shaft structure, such as an end of a portable mounting pole assembly, or a fixed mounting shaft structure (not shown). The tubular mounting bracket preferably also includes an aperture 108 for removably engaging a spring loaded detent pin on such a portable mounting pole assembly or other mounting pole or shaft structure, such as on a vehicle or ship, for example.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the collapsible, locking projectile launching device has a folded closed collapsed configuration 110, in which the first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members or hooks at the opposing end portions of the first and second curved launching arm extensions of the first and second rotatable locking shafts are rotated inwardly toward the central tubular support shaft and the cross bar member of the forked yoke.

As is illustrated in FIG. 4, the first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members or hooks at the opposing end portions of the first and second curved launching arm extensions of the first and second rotatable locking shafts can be rotated outwardly away from the central tubular support shaft and the cross bar member of the forked yoke to a locked open extended configuration 112 with the first ends of the resilient elastic bands spread outwardly and spaced apart from the middle portion of the cross-bar portion of the forked yoke, such as for purposes of aiming and launching a projectile from the projectile launching pouch.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 5-9, inner ends 114, 116 of the rotatable locking shafts include one or more locking pin slots, such as opposing first and second slots 118, 120 configured to receive and engage one or more corresponding locking pins, such as first and second locking pins 122, 124 that extend radially outward from the first and second opposing end portions of the first and second opposing arms of the forked yoke. The one or more locking pin slots are biased by the force exerted by the compression springs against the one or more corresponding locking pins to reversibly lock the collapsible, locking projectile launching device in the locked open extended configuration, and the collapsible, locking projectile launching device can be moved back to the folded or closed collapsed configuration by pressing the first and second rotatable locking shafts against the spring pressure and rotating the first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members or hooks at the opposing end portions of the first and second curved launching arm extensions of the first and second rotatable locking shafts inwardly toward the central tubular support shaft and the cross bar member of the forked yoke.

A main pulley (not shown) may be connected to the middle connector strap or loop of the projectile launching pouch for receiving a rope, typically having one end attached to a portion of the pole or to another pulley mechanism attached to the pole, with a portion of the rope, such as a handle at the end of the rope provided, and one or more additional pulleys (not shown) may optionally be utilized in combination with the main pulley connected to the middle connector strap or loop of the projectile launching pouch, for increasing mechanical advantage for manually pulling the projectile launching pouch and elastic bands back in preparation for launching a projectile. A trigger mechanism may be connected between the main pulley connected to the middle connector strap or loop of the projectile launching pouch for releasing the middle connector strap or loop of the projectile launching pouch when launching a projectile.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the collapsible, locking projectile launching device of the invention thus can be used as arborist line launchers for launching rope throw weights, as well as other projectiles such as seed bombs, rescue lines, unmanned aerial vehicles, and the like. It will be apparent from the foregoing that while particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A collapsible, locking projectile launching device movable between a folded closed collapsed configuration and a locked open extended configuration, the collapsible, locking projectile launching device comprising: a forked yoke member including a central tubular support shaft having a first end and a second end, a cross-bar portion having a middle portion and first and second opposing arms having first and second opposing end portions, said middle portion being fixedly mounted to the first end of the central tubular support shaft; first and second rotatable locking shafts having first ends and second ends, said first and second rotatable locking shafts being rotatably mounted over said first and second opposing arms of said forked yoke member, said first and second rotatable locking shafts being rotatably movable between the folded closed collapsed configuration and the locked open extended configuration, said first and second rotatable locking shafts including elastic band mounting members; a projectile launching pouch having an interior pocket portion configured for releasably receiving and launching a projectile; and first and second resilient elastic bands connected between the elastic band mounting members of the first and second rotatable locking shafts and the projectile launching pouch.
 2. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said forked yoke member comprises a generally U-shaped rod member.
 3. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said central tubular support shaft is connected to a tubular mounting bracket.
 4. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 3, wherein said tubular mounting bracket includes an opening for receiving and removably connecting to an end of a portable mounting pole assembly.
 5. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 3, wherein said tubular mounting bracket includes an opening for receiving and removably connecting to a fixed mounting shaft structure.
 6. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 3, wherein said tubular mounting bracket includes an aperture for removably engaging a spring loaded detent pin of a mounting shaft structure.
 7. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said forked yoke member includes a cross-bar portion having a middle portion fixedly mounted to the first end of the central tubular support shaft.
 8. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said first and second opposing end portions of said first and second opposing arms curve substantially at right angles away from said central tubular support shaft.
 9. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said second ends of said rotatable locking shafts include at least one locking pin slot configured to receive and engage at least one corresponding locking pin extending radially outward from said first and second opposing end portions of the first and second opposing arms of the forked yoke.
 10. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 9, wherein said at least one locking pin slot comprises opposing first and second slots, and said at least one corresponding locking pin comprises opposing first and second corresponding locking pins.
 11. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 9, wherein said at least one locking pin slot is biased against said at least one corresponding locking pin to releasably lock the collapsible, locking projectile launching device in the locked open extended configuration.
 12. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 11, wherein said at least one locking pin slot is biased against said at least one corresponding locking pin by a compression spring.
 13. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said first and second rotatable locking shafts include first and second curved launching arm extensions having opposing end portions that curve back toward the central tubular support shaft, and first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members configured to engage a first end of said first and second resilient elastic bands.
 14. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 13, wherein said first and second curved launching arm extensions are rotated inwardly toward the central tubular support shaft and the cross bar member of the forked yoke in said folded closed collapsed configuration, and are rotated outwardly away from the central tubular support shaft and the cross bar member of the forked yoke in said locked open extended configuration, with said first ends of the resilient elastic bands spread outwardly and spaced apart from the middle portion of the cross-bar portion of the forked yoke.
 15. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 13, wherein said first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members curve away from the central tubular support shaft.
 16. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 13, wherein each of said first and second pairs of elastic band mounting members is spaced apart by a gap dimensioned to frictionally retain knots formed at said first ends of the resilient elastic bands.
 17. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said first and second opposing end portions of said first and second opposing arms of said yoke member are threaded, and further comprising first and second end caps threadably connected to said first and second opposing end portions of said first and second opposing arms of the yoke member, and wherein said first and second end caps are configured to capture and retain first and second coil springs over the first and second opposing end portions of the first and second opposing arms of the yoke member to bias said first and second rotatable locking shafts in a direction toward the central tubular support shaft.
 18. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said projectile launching pouch comprises two exterior side portions, two exterior side corner portions, and a middle exterior portion, said middle exterior portion including a middle connector strap forming a loop connected to and extending away from said middle exterior portion.
 19. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 18, wherein said middle connector strap includes side portions securely affixed to two exterior side corner portions of said projectile launching pouch and extending along the exterior portion to said first and second corners of the projectile launching pouch.
 20. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 19, wherein said side portions of said middle connector strap form first and second corner loops at said first and second corners of said projectile launching pouch configured to retain and engage knots at said second ends of said first and second resilient elastic bands.
 21. The collapsible, locking projectile launching device of claim 1, wherein said first and second resilient elastic bands are tubular. 